Google's DeepMind uses reinforcement learning to master parkour

Google has taught its DeepMind AI to navigate a parkour course by using reinforcement learning. Reinforcement learning is the practice of rewarding desirable behaviour. The faster the AI could navigate the virtual parkour course, the greater the reward. Further incentives and penalties were added for various other metrics. "We train several simulated bodies on a diverse set of challenging terrains and obstacles, using a simple reward function based on forward progress," explains Nicolas Heess, a researcher on the project.